Process of promoting combustion.



(t2! whom, it may concern.-

'" i ms. 84 ,338.

- temperature.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

PATRICK J. hIONAhIARA, OE BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

' Specification of Letters Patent enoosss OF PROMOTING "COMBUSTION!-Patented March 5,1907 I Application filed June.20,1906.. scar No.322,658.

Be it known that I, PATRICK J. McNAuARA, a citizen of the United States,residing in Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented certain newand useful Improvements promoting combustion; and it has for itsprincipal object to effect such complete combustion as will practlcallyinsure the elnn1na- 'tion' of free carbon, and thereby prevent'thegeneration of smoke. This object of the invention is attained bysprinkling or sifting over the coal, either before or after the stove orfurnace is charged, preferably after the fire has been started, asubstantially non-combustible substance, preferably in a powdered form,which will have a tendency to envelop the coal and become incandescent.

In practicing my invention I have discovcred that a substancemostsuitable to at proportions mentioned, viz: silica, 80.88 per cent.; oxidof iron, 6.28 per cent; alumina, 8.60 per cent. lime, 0.38 per cent;magnesia 0.59 per cent., and water 3.27 per cent., or any substance orsubstances which will become incandescent at a comparatively low While Ihave found the proportions above'stated to give the most satisfactoryresults, yet I do not-'wish to be understood as limiting myself to theexact proportions given, as they may be varied in a reasonable degree.

In preparing the mixture the ingredients are thoroughly mixed with asufficient quantity of water to reduce the mass to a slightly lasticcondition. 'I he excess of water is alowed to evaporate, and when themass is in a dry condition it is reduced to a powdered form. In thisform itis sprinkled over the coal, preferably after the fire has beenstarted,

and is permitted to sift down throughthe'interstices between the coal.The powdered substance readily envelops the coal and quickly becomingincandescent the free car-- bustion.

. free carbon in the form of smoke may be liberated by thecombustion ofonly the hydro gen content, if the ten'iperature is below 800, at whichtime oxygen has greater affinity for hydrogen than it has for r trbon.Above 1,000", however, oxygen has greater affinity for carbon thanhydrogen, and the smoke.

disappears as the conditions favorable to smoke formation are removed;This is one of theresults attainedby concentrating the heat ofcombustion within the coal, by coating it with a porous substance whichis a nonconductor of heat and which evolves heat by radiation from thecoating andallows the gaseous products of complete combustion to escapethrough. its pores.

Other substances which have the property plish the result sought to beattained, the

. term incandescent signifying a substance of heat non-conducting butradiating nature, the concentration of heat upon which soon brings itsuperficially to an incandescent condition.

Among the advantages to be derived from my invention are economy in theuse of-fuel and the prevention of smoke. In practice a saving of coal iseffected by consuming the sinoke and other combustible substances,

becomes incandescent and consumes the carbon as soon as it is liberatedand before it can escape in a free state, it being understood that thecoal is not so entirely enveloped as to prevent a suitable supply of airbeing furnished at the bottom'of the grate to'aid cant 'I he formationof clinkers is prevented by the chemical action of the infusiblcheat-retarding substances employed on the alkali of the ash, renderingthe same pra'c tically infusible, and but a minintum of residue of thepowdered substanceis left after the coal is consumed.

I have noticed in the practice ofmy process of-coniplete combustion thatI completely deodorize and neutralizethe gases ordinarily resulting fromcombustion andcompletely rid the products of combustion of theobjectionable anddeleterious or injurious substances, thus obviating theotherwise bad effects upon the health by producing a purer and morehealthful surrounding atmosphere. and heating effect.

1. The process of promoting combustion, consisting in enveloping coalwith a :bstanc'e having the property of becoming incandescent at acomparatively low temperature.

' which consists in performing the combustion of fuel within acommunicating porous coating of heat-non-conductive substance,concentrating the heat within the combusting fuel to a point at whichcarbon has a superior aflinity'for oxygen than hydrogen, and se-- curingthe heat therefrom by radiation from the porous heat-non-conductiVec0ating 2'5 vwithin which the fuel is caused to combust.

5, The -process of promoting combustion,

which consists in performing the combustion of 'fuel .Within acommunlcating porous envelop of "heat -nonoonducti ve' substance,concentrating the heat within the combusting-fuel to a point at'whichcarbon has a superior affinity for oxygen than hydrogen, and

securing the heat therefrom by rarliation' from the porous heat 110n='concluct1ve,-.en- 'yelop within-which, the fuel is caused to combust.I I

In testimony whereof l aflin' my signature 111 presence of twbwitnesses.

J PATRICK J. MoNAMARA. Witnesses:

J. JEROME Lrenrroor, TITIA'N W. JonNsoN.

